Valeria Homayden turns microscopic observations into mesmerising Risograph animations

Field Notes for Wonder is a print pursuit born out of graphic designer Valeria Homayden’s desire to connect with the natural world and find new ways to be in awe of the everyday. “You know when you see trees from far away, from the top of a mountain or the window of an airplane? And they look really small? And then you see moss and it looks like a miniature forest?” Valeria asks. “That’s what started this project.”

The multi-part creative project consists of two experiments with print and paper: a series of Risograph animations that explore patterns found in nature and a pocket-sized publication that takes the format of a field guide with prompts and readings to interact with the landscapes around us. “I’m interested in observing small patterns in larger systems, and patterns in nature are really captivating to me,” Valeria says. This practice of foraging for wondrous finds is her way of avoiding becoming immune to the small miracles that reward those who look more closely at the world. “It can be really easy to get lost in our everyday routine and outside pressures to be productive and to hyperfocus on the self,” the designer says. “It’s easy to feel like everything beautiful, cool, new and exciting is far away, and we are just stuck somewhere boring and dull, only able to see the interesting from afar – never quite within reach.”

What started as individual studies to appreciate the beauty of microscopic patterns found in the forms of the rocks, shells and leaves slowly evolved into frame-by-frame motion that the designer made with the stencil-based printer. Creating the animations with Risograph was a very hands on process, just like foraging for these close-up snippets of nature’s forms. But the printer’s natural imperfections (mis-registeration or visible half tones) only imbued the works with more charm: “The bright colours begin to abstract the images, so you notice the shapes and patterns before identifying the objects themselves,” she says.

The designer’s field guide is like a Wreck This Journal for exploring outdoors – there are prints of Valeria’s found patterns and instructional prompts such as “Go outside and find texture” or “Look at what is by your feet. Now look at what is above your head. Write a short conversation between these two things.” The design of the book lends itself to a slow pace: “with only one idea per spread so your attention is just on one thing until you decide to flip the page, the publication deliberately leaves room to think,” the designer shares. Each exercise stands as a thoughtful activity to “get your brain out of its normal rhythm”.

The project’s message? Inspiration is right under your nose. “We don’t need to constantly look for something new to excite or motivate us. But the most intricate beauty is inherent in the natural world and in our everyday surroundings. Instead, we should simply look in new ways at what already is. Pay closer attention… That’s something I have to remind myself of a lot!” the designer ends. “So really, this project was me making something I needed, but now I get to share it with other people and hope they get inspiration out of it too.”